Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-10-15
BADLY Formed Limbs.

omparatively fewtm linen have really straight
legs. find that not more than one in three
o: the men who pass me are straight-lmbed
Most of them are bow or bandylegged,
some OF them knock -kneed, and in a few in.
stances both legs bend the same way. II is
noticed that, as rule, the stout, heavy men
nave parenthesis lege, while those OF sighter
build in many cases carry their bodies on q
figure resembling au X. The rule, however,
does no. a!ways hold. Many men of no
inconsderable aVoirdupois strike their knees
together when they walk. I. is not uncom-
mon TO see 3 long. lanky man whose legs
are so beat that be is physically ihcapaci.
tated from stopping the traditional pig in
the alleyway. Frequently bow!eggedness is
associated with strength. 1t is usually seen
in short, sturdy men. Those who are
knock kneed have no such recompense, un
less the excuse for renewing trousers, which
are constantly worn out at the knees by
chafng one against the other be construed
as such
It is fact that very few persons have
straight legs. 1t is hard to say just what it
is. Many say that it is because children are
made to walk when they are too young.
Mothers like to see their little ones on their
feet at as early an age as possible, and SO
sometimes force them to stand before their
legs ere able to bear the weight of their
bodies. Nurses, too, when they take child
zen cut for an airing, often make them walk
without their parents knowledge. Un-
dJubtediy this is sometimes the cause of the
deioTmity. Probably many q man owes
h;s curved legs to careless nurse,
who got tired of carrying him when be was
!, baby, and put him down when away from
his mother. Others sag, with good reason
also, that it is due 10 baby carriages. The
enid is wheeled about until it is quite old.
Us Gody is thus developed while its legs are
doug nothing, and when finally it i5 made
to use them they, being still soft, bend un-
der the weight of the body. believe this
treatment of children is responsible for more
bcwlegsedness than anything else.
When young the bones have little rigidity,
aud are easily bent. Unfortunately they
have little elasticity either, and readily take
set. The proportion OF cartilage and min
ersl matter varies in different child
rcn, SO that it is impossible TO give any fixed
age at which they should be made to walk
Many eau walk well wher Twelve months
old, whiie others cannot DO so nul;l they are
unusual proportion oi sinew in the bone,
and in these cases the legs arc almost certain
TO become crooked. Ia these instances
braces can be used with advantage until the
bones harden. This simple remedy is rare
ly used, however, sometimes because the
tendeucy,is not 1oticed until il is too late.
rho iegs bend one way or The other very
gradually aud when the curve is perceptble
it is usually pact the cure of braces. This
candltiou of the bone is often due to in
sufficient food and general neglect. Unless
the blood is kept rich and healthy the bones
are npt 10 he retarded in development. and
so remaining soft, are readily twisted. Some.
uuiea bow legged children become straight
when they grow older. 10 lny own expert
eoce | have seen this occur, but it is impos-
sibe 10 foreteil if the curve in childs legs
will straghten out in after years or not
London Paper.